# eFire vs U by Moen Smart Shower

The clearest difference is monetization model: eFire at free against U by Moen Smart Shower's paid. eFire also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). U by Moen Smart Shower's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 1.7 for eFire against 1.6 for U by Moen Smart Shower. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62 and 168 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 6% of eFire's written reviews are positive against 9% of U by Moen Smart Shower's.

eFire ships an update every 9 months, U by Moen Smart Shower every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 6, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | eFire | U by Moen Smart Shower |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.7 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/efire-controller/id1072747327/reviews)** | [1.6 (168 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-by-moen-smart-shower/id1171448279/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 62 | **168** |
| Positive reviews | 6.1% of reviews | **8.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 31 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WOLF STEEL USA INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/961217528) | [Moen Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/689014452) |

## What reviewers say

### eFire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/efire-controller/id1072747327)

Control your Bluetooth-enabled fireplace directly from your smartphone. Adjust flame height, blower speed, and LED lighting with an intuitive interface. Create custom ambiance with millions of colors or set pre-programmed moods.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth fireplace control, Adjust flame height, Control blower speed, Manage multicolor LED lights, Customizable LED color wheel, Set ambiance with Emberbed mode, 24hr Auto OFF timer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Handy app when working
- 👍 User-friendly once figured out
- 👍 Seamless device switching
- 👍 Crazy cool operation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 App doesn't connect
- 🐛 Bluetooth fails
- 🐛 Functionality is useless
- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable

**Reported bugs**

- First remotes didn't work
- Cannot sign on when wife has app open
- No login
- Backlights are dim
- Forgot password, no reset option

**Requested features**

- Invest in better app experience
- UI update needed
- Connectivity with Google/Alexa
- Nest level controls for temperature
- Temperature setting by time of day/day of week


### U by Moen Smart Shower

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-by-moen-smart-shower/id1171448279)

Control your shower remotely and personalize your experience with this smart shower system. Set up to 12 custom presets, including temperature and duration, and activate your shower using voice commands or your smartphone. Enjoy a perfectly tailored shower every time.

**Highlights:** Wi-Fi/cloud-based digital shower system, Mobile app control, Voice activation (Alexa, HomeKit, Siri, Google Assistant), Up to 12 personalized shower presets, Remote shower activation and warm-up pause, Precise temperature control, On-screen shower status feedback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well once set up
- 👍 Convenient configurations and presets
- 💡 Requests for more customization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and reconnection issues
- 🐛 Unreliable app and controller functionality
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer devices and OS updates
- 🐛 Buggy and crash-prone app
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns with cloud-based system

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to connect to shower controller
- Inconsistent time zone and clock display
- Shower controller resets or malfunctions after updates
- Inability to change order of shower outlets in the app

**Requested features**

- Add support for Arizona time zone
- Allow customization of screen color and animations
- Improve Alexa and HomeKit integration
- Provide more granular control and settings in the app
- Add maintenance reminders and diagnostics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is eFire free?

eFire is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is U by Moen Smart Shower free?

U by Moen Smart Shower is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, eFire or U by Moen Smart Shower?

eFire is rated higher. eFire averages 1.7 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while U by Moen Smart Shower averages 1.6 from 168 ratings.

### Do eFire or U by Moen Smart Shower have ads?

Neither eFire nor U by Moen Smart Shower shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, eFire or U by Moen Smart Shower?

eFire ships an update every 9 months, and U by Moen Smart Shower every 3 months. Most recently, eFire was updated on August 6, 2026 and U by Moen Smart Shower on September 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*